The foodie options in Tulum are abundant with plenty of variety, from fine dining restaurants offering lots of alternative cuisines, to health food cafes and of course traditional Mexican street food. However for me when dining out on holiday, it’s more than just the food I’m looking to impress me, but the atmosphere and ambience needs to be on point too.
Now I’m not usually one to necessarily need entertainment with dinner, although we discovered that’s exactly what they like to offer in Tulum at some of the top rated restaurants.
Starting with one of my favourite restaurants for Greek food in Tulum, we visited Ilios twice during our trip and each time had a brilliant experience.
Every night at 9pm there is a fire show and acrobats to entertain guests around the restaurant floor as they enjoy their meal.
It’s quite the spectacle and lasts about half an hour, so you’re getting a great show for free alongside your dinner.
The evening we went for my birthday celebrations we even smashed plates Greek style and had sparklers to dance with, it was such a laugh!
Moving on to Tora where they serve delicious Japanese cuisine, later in the evening we were handed sparklers for a boogy as the DJ played the drums live during his set.
The waiters all get involved too making for a super fun and lively atmosphere amongst diners even after the sparklers are over.
We had a delightful spread of Japanese dishes including the smoked and poached salmon sushi roll which was divine.
Another top restaurant I want to mention for its aesthetic interiors and delectable food is Chambao.
As a traditional steak and grill, the menu is classic dishes done to perfection.
The bread basket with an assortment of three different butters to start was outstanding, and I’m not even usually a big bread basket lover.
I opted for the pear, goat cheese, walnut salad which was beautifully presented and packed with flavour and goodness.
Whilst my boyfriend had an epic steak burger with all the extras, we couldn’t fault a thing.
Although there is no entertainment at this place, the aesthetic interiors and indoor-outdoor style of dining make for a wonderfully romantic setting for a date night dinner.
The only other place I will mention, but save the details as it deserves its own separate post, is Gitano Jungle.
We went here on our final night and were treated to an awesome show complete with disco balls hanging from the jungle canopy.
So that’s a roundup of my top restaurants in Tulum if you’re looking for an elevated dining experience beyond just the food; because every night’s a party in Tulum ❤
Being a January baby, escaping the UK winter in search of warmer climates is always the best way to spend my birthday. So for our winter dose of sun at the start of this year, we jetted off to Mexico and enjoyed two glorious weeks in the coastal town of Tulum.
My birthday on the 26th January was about halfway through our holiday, and it was the most perfect sunny day in Mexico which started with some chilled time on the beach.
I had a fresh coconut to enjoy as I read my book, before dipping our feet in the ocean.
My birthday bikini of choice was this cute butter yellow number with ruffle details.
These butter yellow ruffle hot-pants were the ideal finishing touch to my beachside look.
After a few hours relaxing in our cabana, we walked down the beach to have a couples massage.
With the sound of the ocean waves and palms rustling in the light breeze, it was the most dreamy location to indulge in a massage together.
We then walked along the beach road to find the famous Escultura Ven a la Luz.
This iconic work of art by Daniel Popper is a 10 meter tall sculpture made with steel, wood, rope and greenery.
Ven a la Luz meaning ‘Come to the Light‘, represents the harmony between people and nature and is one of the most instagrammable spots in Mexico.
An afternoon pickup was in need, so we popped into Starbucks for iced coffees and some fruit to snack on.
It was then time for a spot of shopping in the many boho-chic boutiques which line the beach road in Tulum.
I treated myself to a stunning handmade top with flared sleeves and tassels from this shop called Las Lulas.
At £80 it wasn’t cheap, but I just loved the hippy-chic vibe of this piece and the level of detail is exquisite.
Casa Pink Revolver was another lovely boutique selling gorgeous gold jewellery, so I purchased this chunky statement gold ring to add to my collection.
I was yet to choose a gift for my boyfriend to get for me, so with a Sunglasses Hut just down the street, I couldn’t resist the Miu Miu classic round shape sunnies which have been on my wish list for so long.
Not a huge amount of gifts, but each very high quality pieces which I will get a lot of wear out of both on holidays and back home.
Soon the early evening crept up on us and I was hoping for another sunset moment on the rooftop of our hotel, but a huge storm came in bringing buckets of rainfall with it, so we headed back to our room to get ready for the evening.
My birthday dinner fit was this incredible Flook The Label chocolate brown maxi beach dress that my boyfriend bought me for my 30th birthday last year in Bali.
This dress is such a flattering cut and the perfect vibe for a special evening out on holiday.
To complete the look I wore my By Alona pearl necklace, Heaven Mayhem statement gold earrings, my gold swirl bangle, ruffle mule heels from Sol Concept, and my little Bottega dupe handbag from Topshop.
Beachy, sexy and a touch of glam with the pearls, I truly felt like the birthday girl in this outfit.
My restaurant of choice for birthday dinner celebrations was Ilios Greek in the centre of the Tulum beach road.
We’d visited this place earlier in our trip and it was such a fun party vibe with delicious Greek food, we had to come back for my birthday.
In traditional Greek style we did the plate smashing which was super fun.
Then they gave everyone sparklers and we all danced on our chairs!
I ordered my all time favourite, a Greek feta salad which was simply divine.
We also shared the flatbread with hummus, a hearty moussaka, and a fresh green avocado salad.
I had such a fun evening celebrating my birthday and was even surprised with a cupcake and candle from my boyfriend back at our hotel to finish the night.
Another wonderful birthday spent in paradise with the sand between my toes, sunshine on my skin and a big smile on my face; hello chapter 31 ❤
Happy Sunday! It’s been a week since we returned from 12 glorious days in the Mexican sun and I’m only just getting over the jet lag. I was thrown back in at the deep-end with work last week as we were hosting an event in London on Tuesday, but I do thrive on routine so it was good to get back to usual programming. As you can imagine, I have a shedload of content to share from Tulum so I will posting all of the aesthetic photos and reliving the highlights of our trip over the next series of posts on here…so do stay tuned!
Starting with our accommodation, we stayed at Hotelito Azul located on the popular Beach Road for the duration of our time in Tulum.
We booked one of their garden view villas which was very spacious with a double sink ensuite and aesthetic boho-chic decor.
I particularly liked the tall ceilings and the bed was so big and very comfy indeed.
Our maid Griselda was absolutely lovely and went to the effort of making us a different towel animal every day.
One of the biggest draws to this hotel was the infinity pool on the rooftop overlooking the beach one side, and the luscious green jungle on the other.
Unfortunately the rooftop was out of action for food and drinks service during our stay which was such a shame as the views were spectacular.
We made the most of it though and took our own bottle of wine and nibbles up for sunsets as this really is such a gorgeous and unique spot for sundown in Tulum.
On our first day we wanted to familiarise ourselves with the area, so we went for a walk back down the road towards the town and found a perfect local cafe for delicious smoothie bowls.
Raw Love vegan cafe soon became our favourite place for the most healthy and yummy all day breakfast bowls.
Further up the road was a cluster of cute restaurants, bars and shops.
Seeing this soft top Mini Cooper driving through town made me wish I could have my own Mini there to scoot around in.
Later that afternoon we decided to hire push bikes to explore the rest of the beach road on the other side of our hotel.
We road all along the beach road through the most popular part where Bagatelle, Ilios and Casa Banana are located alongside lots of chic boutique shops.
I was thrilled to find the iconic ‘Follow That Dream’ road sign which is quite far up the road where it seems a lot less busy nowadays.
Before heading back to our hotel, we stopped by Mia beach club on our way back to have a bite to eat overlooking the beach.
I indulged in my first Margarita of the trip and it didn’t disappoint with a perfectly sweet and spicy finish.
My boyfriend had a pepperoni pizza which I had a slice of too. Not exactly an authentic Mexican dish, but you can’t go wrong with a pizza sometimes.
That evening I wore an all white fit for our first meal out in town.
We ended up at Ilios restaurant which I had pinned as the best place for Greek food in the area and it certainly met those expectations.
The interiors here are on point and we were even treated to a brilliant fire show performance!
We had the hummus with flatbread to start, my boyfriend opted for the chicken gyros and of course I ordered the Greek salad which was divine.
With a time difference of minus 5 hours, we were absolutely knackered and got an early night ready to wake up fresh on Mexican time.
So that’s an overview of our first day in Tulum and I can’t wait to share all of the amazing adventures and memories we made together during our two weeks in tropical paradise ❤
With my brother and his family having moved to Singapore at the beginning of this year, we decided to reschedule our flights home from Bali and stopover for two days in the city. It was a joy to see them settled into their new home and so exciting to explore this brilliant city for ourselves.
We were so impressed with how clean everywhere is and the minimal amount of cars on the roads means there’s barely any traffic throughout the day.
To see as much of the city as possible, we went on the open top tour bus which was glorious in the sunshine.
For lunch we stopped at the famous Marina Bay Sands Hotel and went to their rooftop Italian restaurant Lavo.
That evening we were given the authentic Singapore local experience with dinner at a hawker centre called Lau Pa Sat in the centre of town.
There are lots of different food vendors serving street food which you can eat in a community dining space together in the middle. We had some dumplings and then shared this massive plate of crispy vegetable noodles, washed down with a few jugs of beer of course.
That night we went back to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel for rooftop cocktails at C’est La Vie bar, before walking around Gardens By The Bay all lit up at night, making us feel like we’d been transported to outer space.
This was a truly unique, other worldly experience which I’d say is a must to see if you’re visiting Singapore.
The next day was a little overcast so instead of going to the orchid garden as planned, we went down to the Marina Square Shopping Centre to browse the luxurious designer shops.
We were a bit peckish so grabbed a late lunch at Yardbird overlooking the Marina. We shared a deliciously hearty steak sandwich with yummy pickles and salty chippies.
Whilst the endless options of designer shops was tempting, I ended up making a small purchase in Zara and treated myself to this cute, pink skort.
Our final meal with my brother and his family was at their favourite local Greek restaurant Bakalaki Tavern.
I wore my new pink skort and we had the most wonderful evening celebrating our short but sweet visit to Singapore.
My niece is growing so quickly and she was as adorable as ever practicing her words at the table.
We had dips and pitta to start and I opted for a traditional Greek feta salad for main which was divine. I’ve had my fair share of Greek salads and they never come close to my own homemade recipe, but this one was certainly up there.
And so we said our goodbyes and I had my final snuggles with my beautiful niece, before we grabbed our suitcases and got a taxi to the airport.
Our experience of Singapore was fantastic and we will no doubt be returning again soon for a longer trip to see more of the city and spend time with my family too ❤
Being considered the most picturesque village on the island of Santorini, we had to visit Oia to experience this world famous sunset spot for ourselves.
Catching the bus from Imerovigli was very easy and only takes 20 minutes or so to get to the central square of Oia where we were dropped off. Arriving early evening at around 5pm, we had a few hours of sunlight left to explore the stunning maze of hilly streets lined with shops and restaurants.
There’s no denying how busy this village becomes during the summer with all the tourists, but we did manage to find some quieter corners off the beaten track like this old windmill.
We stopped to get some shots down this cute side street framed with pink flowers too.
The white wash buildings against the volcanic rock they are built into is so unique and breathtaking to see in real life, it really is like a postcard painting.
It’s the blue top churches and old windmills dotted amongst the white buildings which make that distinctive Santorini landscape so iconic.
I wore this patterned bow back detail dress paired with white buckle sliders, a classic basket bag and my MiuMiu sunnies, the perfect afternoon into evening look for strolling the hilly streets of Oia.
I made 7:30pm reservations for sundown drinks at Veranda Aperitivo, a rooftop bar part of the Canaves Sunday Collection.
With sunset views and away from the crowds of tourists, this was an ideal spot to enjoy golden hour with a drink in hand.
I ordered an exquisite Tommy’s Margarita, whilst my boyfriend had his usual classic Mojito cocktail.
Once the sun went below the horizon, we wondered over to a famous viewing point overlooking Oia to see the village lit up by night.
We then caught the bus back to Fira where we found a lovely Italian restaurant called Da Vinci for a late dinner.
I had my favourite linguine vongole which was divine and my boyfriend had a penne arrabbiata he devoured too; we needed carbs after all that walking!
Whilst the village of Oia was beautiful and amazing to experience at sunset, we didn’t go back again as it was by far the busiest of places we visited on the island.
There are so many other equally incredible places around the island to see Santorini’s magnificent golden hour away from the crowds. Checkout my other posts in my Santorini Diaries series to learn where our top locations are for the best views of sunset ❤
If you’re looking for endless options of cool cafes, boojie bars and delicious delicacies from cuisines all over the world, then Canggu is the place to satisfy your ultimate foodie cravings. From the stunning smoothie bowls full of the freshest fruits and all day brunching options galore, to classic Mexican, Italian, Greek, Asian or Australian… you really are spoilt for choice!
Whether you’re vegan or in search of somewhere healthier to eat, or you’re wanting to treat yourself to something more indulgent and would like to experience some fine dining, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes in Canggu. We were blown away by the standard of the food everywhere we ate at and the prices were incredibly reasonable, hard to believe compared to the price of restaurants in the UK!
Whilst there wasn’t enough time to try every place recommended during our short stay in Canggu, we did sample some of the most famous cafes and restaurants in the area and I’ve narrowed it down to seven of my favourite.
The ultimate destination for vegans, vegetarians and health food lovers, The Shady Shack offers a big menu which includes an all-day breakfast, nutritious smoothies and juices, burgers and salads, share plates, delicious mains and decadent vegan desserts. I opted for one of their Insta famous salad bowls of grilled haloumi, pickled beetroot, quinoa, rocket, cucumber, avocado, tomato, roasted peppers, olives, baba ganoush, served with a creamy tahini dressing, crispy chickpeas & za’atar. Brimming with plenty of greens and colourful veggies, this Mediterranean inspired bowl of goodness was the perfect post-flight refuel my body needed. At 85K IDR, this salad cost only £4.25.
Another fully plant-based cafe, Kynd Canggu was right next to our hotel and became my boyfriend’s favourite place for lunch. Despite not being vegan, we loved it here and over the course of our stay my boyfriend sampled the loaded fries with chipotle aioli, crunchy onions & jalapeños, their take on a Mexican Burrito, and not forgetting the Kynd Bigger Mac. I was excited to try their aesthetic Acai Bowl complete with fruit lettering to spell out BALI, a cliche I know but it had to be done.
They know their Mexican food in Bali, so I was keen to try out Canguu’s top rated for Mexican eats, Lola’s. With an edgy, buzzing vibe, this cool spot on the shortcut seemed the place to be for a night out with friends. I started with a cheeky Marg of course before we had some naughty loaded nachos with all the toppings to share.
For a main course I hade their Mexi Bowl which comprised of a bed of lettuce with beans, sautéed mushrooms, spinach, red cabbage, pico de gallo, guacamole, cashew sour cream, tortilla chips, and I added BBQ jackfruit. A taste sensation of authentic Mexican flavours, I couldn’t believe it was only £3.75 for this meal, I would go here on repeat if I could.
My number one destination for date night or even just a glass of lovely vino, this Mediterranean inspired restaurant serves up sharing plates using cooking techniques like smoking and wood fire grilling to coax maximum flavour from minimal ingredients.
With its Scandi style interiors and romantic cosy courtyard adorned with fairy-lights, we went here for the perfect Friday date night and shared a scrumptious feast of small plates. Highlights included the cured meat selection, homemade hummus with burnt chilli butter & crispy bits, and those wonderfully sweet wood fired carrots with yoghurt & dukkah.
There is even a secret speakeasy bar at the very back of the restaurant where we enjoyed our after dinner drinks, it oozes sophistication and style.
For a taste of Italy and another atmospheric restaurant ideal for date night, Azoria is a newly opened Italian in the heart of Canggu already making a name for itself. Serving traditional Italian dishes amongst the setting of its rustic Mediterranean inspired decor, it felt like we were transported to Europe as we sipped our red vino and the Italian guitar music set the ambience.
To start we shared an exquisite Caesar salad, and for main my boyfriend had the Beef Ragu, whilst I made my own pasta of pappardelle, tomato sauce, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, spinach and basil. The pasta was so fresh and I loved the idea of making your own pasta so I could personalise the meal to my taste. We never regretti our spaghetti ❤
Whilst this restaurant promotes itself as low calorie and super healthy, that doesn’t mean it sacrifices on quality or options to suit all tastes. My boyfriend had the pork ribs with sweet potato fries and he said it was one of the best dinners he’d had on the trip – although we said that after every meal to be honest!
I opted for the grilled fish topped with a mango chilli salsa, served with baked pumpkin and lots of fresh salad. A nicely balanced plate high in protein, complex carbs from the pumpkin, fats from the fish and heaps of nutrients from all the salad; I love this kind of food good for the body and soul. They also have live musicians on guitars every night from 7-9pm, making for the perfect al fresco dining experience.
The final foodie destination I had to have on my list of favourites was Zin Cafe, the restaurant within the hotel we were staying. We had breakfast here every morning and whilst my boyfriend made his way through the extensive menu of savoury and sweet brunch options, I couldn’t get enough of the fresh fruit platter and yummy smoothie bowls. The cafe spans multiple levels spilling into the co-working space, which is like an awesome tree-house perfect for chilled working vibes. We ordered lunch to our terrace one afternoon and I had a delightful plate of roasted vegetables with green tahini. We also had their local Indonesian Curry for dinner in the restaurant one evening which didn’t disappoint, it was everything I hoped for and more.
So that’s a roundup of my top food spots in Canggu. There are many more incredible cafes and brilliant restaurants we didn’t have time to visit of course, but safe to say you won’t be disappointed wherever you go to eat in Bali; it’s true foodie heaven ❤
With another bank holiday long weekend ahead of us, we decided to make the most of it and go for a mini staycay to the wonderful city of Brighton. Being one of the most iconic seaside cities in the UK, I couldn’t think of a better place to spend the King’s coronation weekend.
Arriving on Saturday afternoon at the Ibis City Centre Hotel, we were greeted with union jack balloons and a welcome gift of prosecco ready on ice with traditional popcorn too.
With our King now crowned and the night of celebrations ahead of us, we popped our prosecco and sipped our bubbles whilst taking in that fantastic view we had over the maze of a bustling Brighton town centre.
Keeping things very English themed, we headed to The Ivy for dinner. I wore my H&M slit hem leggings paired with these ASOS lace front heels, this Next oversized camel blazer and an emerald green silk wrap top as a subtle nod to the royal events of the weekend.
We always have a fabulous time at The Ivy Collection restaurants and our experience here at The Ivy in the Lanes certainly didn’t disappoint.
The opulent artwork and eclectic interiors of The Ivy create that elevated ambience, which is of course is matched with the impeccable service and top tier food.
We can’t visit The Ivy and not get their salt crusted sourdough to start, it’s simply divine. A bowl of olives and a bottle of wine flowing too, I was in my happy place ready for a fun night ahead.
For mains I ordered the blackened cod baked in a banana leaf with soy marinade, citrus-pickled fennel, yuzu and herb sauce served with broccoli, whilst my boyfriend had the chef’s special sirloin steak served with peppercorn sauce and fries.
Upon recommendation from our lovely waiter, we went for post dinner drinks at a bar called The Font in the Lanes, before heading back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.
Sunday morning we took a stroll around the Lanes exploring all the awesome vintage shops before grabbing burritos at Chipotle.
That afternoon we enjoyed some coffees at this cool cafe Bread & Milk whilst discussing options for my tattoo.
I’ve been wanting a wave tattoo on my ankle for some time now, so being in Brighton where there are so many tattoo shops and of course being by the sea, it was the perfect opportunity to finally get my 2nd ink.
We’d come across this tattoo shop Skinned Alive on our way to lunch earlier and enquired about my fine line tattoo. Being one of the top rated tattoo places in Brighton I couldn’t go wrong and I got a good vibe from the guys working there.
I showed them my inspiration and explained where I wanted it on my ankle, before the tattooist drew up my design which I then worked with him to get just right.
So with my stencil finalised and my placement agreed, I got seated in the chair ready for my 2nd tattoo!
It couldn’t have taken any longer than 10 minutes and not too painful on the whole, although I felt it more than my wrist tattoo as this was right on the ankle bone.
Ankle wrapped to protect the fresh tattoo, I couldn’t be happier with my 2nd ink. Thanks to the guys at Skinned Alive who made the experience so positive and ensured I had the perfect placement and design I had envisioned for the wave.
Early Sunday evening the skies were finally blue and the sun was shining, so we headed for the seafront via my favourite corner of Brighton, Dukes Lane.
The vibes were high at the beach bars as everyone embraced the bank holiday weekend and soaked up the early evening sunshine as music played and drinks were in full flow.
Having been on our feet all day, we grabbed an early dinner at a Greek restaurant called Adelfia. I was craving lots of veggies and hummus, so I had a big bowl of traditional Greek salad with pitta and hummus to share, paired with a crisp white wine from Greece; exquisite.
We finished our evening with a sunset stroll along the seafront and a walk down the pier lit up in all its glory at night. That concluded another brilliant weekend away exploring the best of Brighton life which we continue to love every time we come back to visit ❤
Dani Aneka 